Effect of Action Observation and Motor Imagery on Arthrogenic Muscle Inhibition of the Quadriceps in Patients With End-stage Knee Gonarthrosis.

The study aims at evaluating the effects of one session of Action Observation Training (AOT) and Motor Imagery (MI) on arthrogenic muscle inhibition (AMI) of the quadriceps (QF) in subjects with end-stage gonarthrosis.

30 patients with end-stage knee osteoarthritis were enrolled. Patients were randomized in two groups (experimental group and control group).

Experimental group performed one 6-minutes AOT and MI session with motor content of concentric and isometric QF contractions, whereas control group underwent a 6-minute sham AOT and MI session. Every patient was evaluated to assess the percentage of AMI on the QF before (T0) and after (T1) the treatment following the gold standard Twitch Interpolated Technique.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Knee Osteoarthritis; Arthrogenic Muscle Inhibitions
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: AOT + MI; Other: Control AOT + MI

Detailed Description

The study aims at evaluating the effects of one session of Action Observation Training (AOT) and Motor Imagery (MI) on arthrogenic muscle inhibition (AMI) of the quadriceps (QF) in subjects with end-stage gonarthrosis.

30 patients with end-stage knee osteoarthritis were enrolled. Patients were randomized in two groups (experimental group and control group).

Experimental group performed one AOT and MI session with motor content of concentric and isometric QF contractions, whereas control group underwent a 6-minute sham AOT and MI session. Every patient was evaluated to assess the percentage of AMI on the QF before (T0) and after (T1) the assigned treatment following the gold standard Twitch Interpolated Technique. Both groups sat on an isometric dynamometric chair (COR1, OT-Bioelettronica, Torino) with a load cell (FORZA, OT-Bioelettronica, Torino) designed to detect and map the strenght generated by the QF muscle. Upper body movements were limited by crossover shoulder harnesses, a belt across the abdomen and the subjects were asked to keep their arms crossed holding onto the harness while performing the evaluation.

Three large electrodes (10x13cm) were positioned over the quadriceps muscle belly. Two sEMG electrodes (FREEEMG, BTS, Italy) were positioned on the Vastus Medialis and Vastus Lateralis using the SENIAM protocol.

Right after the first evaluation (T0), both groups performed an AOT session. The experimental group was shown a video (4 minutes) in which a subject (matched for age, sex, and limb affected) performed, in third person view, quadriceps concentric contractions for 2 minutes and isometric contractions for 2 minutes. The video contained visual elements indicating the maximality of the effort. After both concentric movement video and isometric movement video the subjects performed a MI session (2 sessions, 1 minute in length each), in which they were asked to imagine in first person the action just seen in the video.

On the other hand, the control group was shown a video of landscapes (4 minutes in length). Halfway through and at the end of the video they were asked to imagine what they had just seen for 1 minute. After the session of AOT and MI (T1) both groups were re-evaluated in the same way as previously described.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 30
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Roberto Gatti; Phone Number: 0282245610; Email: roberto.gatti@hunimed.eu

Study Locations

• Italy
  • Rozzano, Italy, 20089
    • Recruiting
    • Istituto Clinico Humanitas
    • Contact: Roberto Gatti; Phone Number: 0282245610; Email: roberto.gatti@hunimed.eu

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• patients with end-stage knee ostheoarthritis undergoing primary total knee arthroplasty
• Active knee flexion > 45°

Exclusion Criteria:

• Previous lower limb orthopedic surgery
• Concomitant neurological, orthopedic, cardiovascular disorders
• Cognitive impairments or psychiatric disorders

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Double

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: AOT + MI group; The AOT + MI group was shown a video (4 minutes) in which a subject (matched for age, sex, and limb affected) performed, in third person view, quadriceps concentric contractions for 2 minutes and isometric contractions for 2 minutes. The video contained visual elements indicating the maximality of the effort. After both concentric and isometric movement video the subjects performed a MI session (1 minute in length each), in which they were asked to imagine in first person the action previously observed in the video.	Other: AOT + MI; During the AOT session, the patients were shown a video containing motor contents. In particular, the video demonstrated quadriceps concentric and isometric contractions, presented in the third person perspective. At the conclusion of each video, the patients were asked to spend 1 minute imagining what they had just seen.
Sham Comparator: Control group; The control group was shown a video of landscapes (4 minutes in length). Halfway through and at the end of the video they were asked to imagine what they had just seen for 1 minute.	Other: Control AOT + MI; The control group was shown a video of landscapes (4 minutes in length). Halfway through and at the end of the video they were asked to imagine what they had just seen for 1 minute.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Changes in arthrogenic muscle inhibition (estimated through Interpolated Twitch Technique)	Changes in arthrogenic muscle inhibition (AMI) of the quadriceps muscle before and after AOT and MI session on patients with advanced stage gonarthrosis.	1- Before AOT+MI session; 2- Immediately after AOT+MI session

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Istituto Clinico Humanitas

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): January 1, 2023
• Primary Completion (Estimated): September 30, 2023
• Study Completion (Estimated): September 30, 2023

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: August 3, 2023
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 16, 2023
• First Posted (Actual): August 21, 2023

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): August 21, 2023
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 16, 2023
• Last Verified: August 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Joint Diseases; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Rheumatic Diseases; Arthritis; Osteoarthritis; Osteoarthritis, Knee
• Other Study ID Numbers: CLF22/07

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No